What to Look For in a Fire Safe

Banks are probably the biggest customers of fire safe manufacturers; but they are certainly not the only market. Forget about detective shots used for blackmailing. Incriminating evidence of secret affairs you see in Hollywood films might provide fire safes a prominent screen time, but they often undermine the value of a safe's security features.
Most homes and businesses today have miniscule things - documents, keys, a wad of funds - which they consider absolutely necessary to keep in the premises under lock and key. These things are so important they need to make sure whatever they put inside will survive a raging fire.
Name. Top-notch manufacturers of fire safes have acquired a reputation because of the quality of the products they produce. if you aren't familiar with quality standards and can not very make out what the numbers on the label mean, go for a safe bearing a reputable name. Brinks, SentrySafe or Fire Fyter safes may not be the cheapest in the market, but you would be sure their products have been tested for quality.
If the things you'd like to preserve and protect are valuable enough, investing in a nice quality fire safe would be wise. But how do you select which fire safe to bring home with you? What do you look for in a fire safe?
Fire retardant materials are often used in security safes that are intended to dissuade burglars. This material slows down the burning effects of fire. Fire resistant materials generally withstand extreme temperatures and keep your documents and things inside it safe, but these may be more easily broken in to.
Label. Safes come in different types, depending on the main hazard they were intended to protect against. If you'd like to protect your things from fire, make sure you receive a fire safe with the words fire resistant etched somewhere in the label. Some safes might contain the words fire retardant on the label; these aren't what you need because they won't serve your purpose.
Fire Safes are specifically designed to control the conditions inside the safe, regardless of a raging conflagration outside. Manufacturers work with the assumption that its contents are heat-sensitive and would easily be damaged by escalating temperatures. Fire safes have insulated walls and smoke seals around the edges that help maintain a icy temperature inside. Because insulation is accomplished with layers of fireboard, fire safes often have thick walls and doors - at least an inch thick. Fire safes are rated based on resistance tests. A one-hour fire safe is likely to suit your needs.
Fire Safes and Standards
Buyer Beware
by:NuTKung